About Me

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

I wrote my first CV on a manual typewriter, used carbon paper to make a copy, and carefully sent it to my prospective employer. The year was 1984 and the CV got me an interview and a job.

We still use the typewriter interface... the qwerty layout, the spacebar, the backspace in the top right corner. Like all interfaces, it's hard to change once it gets a lot of users. Even my mobile phone has a full qwerty keyboard, and I love it.

But there's one thing that's annoyed me for years. OK, there were bigger annoyances at the time, and work, family life, and obligation buried the problem for a long time. But yesterday, as I found myself typing a row of uppercase and I asked myself, "wtf is this?", I realised that enough is enough, and sometimes, we just gotta do what we gotta do.

So I decided to do something about it. The CAPS key is an abomination. We all know that. It's a huge key, stuck right there where the Ctrl used to be, and as far as I know, it's only used by 419 scammers and Fortran programmers.

Now, I can understand that the keyboard producers of the world don't really appreciate the problem. For them, one key is as good as another, and no-one's complained, so why change a perfectly good model?

Obviously the keyboard producers have been so indoctrinated that they don't even inspect their own products any longer. Listen, dudes: no-one wants that crummy CAPS key. It's history. It dates back to the times when bold meant going back and typing the same text twice.

And so I have launched CAPSoff, a campaign to change the world, one key at a time. We're going to start with the CAPS LOCK key, which is fat and useless and has no friends, so should be an easy target. Maybe after that we can gang up on the SysRq key.

To succeed, CAPSoff will need to convince a bunch of very large, very stupid organisations, that the computer users of the world really don't want this key. It's going to have to organise letter-writing campaigns, petitions, websites, and lots of activism. We may have to organise conferences, protests, and even sponsor pro-reform.political candidates.

Although the CAPS key may seem an easy target, we're going to have to get a lot of people involved and active, to get rid of it.

So this is my plan. How do we build such an organisation? Can we do it entirely using free services from Google? (I'm no special admirer of Google but it seems they're aiming to become the main web-based service provider.)

The amount of times i've accidentally pressed it while typing a password, only to have to re-type the password again and again and have to reset the password without even noticing it's on cause my caps lock light is broken or something... man i hate that thing

I'm with you body and soul... i don't really know what that means, but count me in

I have been levering off the caps lock key on every keyboard I have owned for 10 years. In fact on my current notebook, I have de-functioned the key by removing the metal brackets and then resticking it back down with double-sided tape as a nod to aesthetics.

Also, I only buy keyboards that allow me to pop off the stupid thing easily. Boycott any others now!--Len.

I realize acronyms have a tendency to drift from the CAPS LOCK, frequently appearing in any number of forms; e.g., PERL has become Perl or perl, but if we're going to be pedantic about where the CTRL button should be and what should or shouldn't be on the keyboard, can we remember to call fortran FORTRAN? And you forgot COBOL (or cobol, if you prefer)

I'm keeping my caps lock. I've created a custom keyboard layout so that with caps locks off, I get Dvorak and with caps lock on, I get a custom Hebrew layout. Take away my caps lock, and I have to type annoying, multi-key combinations or use a menu to switch between the Latin and Hebrew scripts. Therefore, YOU CAN HAVE MY CAPS LOCK WHEN YOU PRY IT FROM MY COLD, DEAD KEYBOARD!

It was the AT-model of keyboard that destroyed it around 1988. The CTRL-key is the most frequently used key so it was very stupid to move it to that awkward place. The first AT-boards had a switch so you could put the CTRL key back. Fortunately when running X it is not a problem (apart from when helping someone who hasn't moved the CTRL-key back...). When I temporarily run M$-Win on one of my machines in 2000 it was hard to find an easy way to make CAPS lock CNTRL as it was not even supported by the crappy OS. Yeah, I'm joining this battle to get the CNTRL key back where it should be. Those few people who use the CAPS lock can easily map it to the position they want it anyway (if runnning a decent OS)

I do press the CAPS LOCK by accident too often and would appreciate it being MOVED (not removed). HOWEVER, I don't agree with what should replace it. The CTRL key has been on the bottom row for long enough and should not be moved (again). Making the space bar longer is a bigger waste of space. How about adding 2 more keys for some commonly used signs that aren't there already (don't know which) or replacing it with a FUNC key like that used on laptops, so the F keys can have a dual purpose (standardised of course, so all keyboards print the same shortcut icon and standard keyboard drivers support them)?

I am an architect, and when drafting, all notes need to be typed in caps. You can always tell an architect drafter because they often forget to turn off caps lock before emailing or posting. But I can remember. Just like you can remember to simply not hit it when you dont need it, right?

That said, Im keeping mine. Lock, stock and barrel.

I wouldnt mind a little relocation though.. top row for both CAPS and NUM LOCK could be workable.

People with this kind of disgruntalment need to get a life and leave thier problems in thier homes! I FOR ONE DON'T MIND SEEING ALL CAPITOLS AS THAT IS HOW I PRINT. IF I WANT TO SHOUT AT SOMEONE IN EMAIL OR PRINTING I ENLARGE THE SIZE OF MY PRINT! YOU SHOULD DO AS WELL IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.

Sorry, Pieter, but I'm a typist from way back, and I want -- and NEED -- the "CAPS LOCK" key, and I'm neither a 419 scammer, nor a Fortran programmer, just an old-fashioned typist. Please! I hope they NEVER get rid of the "CAPS LOCK" key! All you have to do is be continually aware of its location, that's all. From experience, I know that it's very easy to turn it on inadvertently, but it's a very necessary key. How about if they just switched the locations of "CAPS LOCK" and the "TAB" keys. I think that would be a much better solution than getting rid of "CAPS LOCK" completely.

The idea to get rid of Caps Lock is idiotic in the extreme, whereas moving it makes some degree of sense. However, it would be much more sensible to campaign for a completely reworked keyboard - the use of QWERTY slows us down by up to 20 words per minute (look up why QWERTY was invented online and you'll see that it has outlived any usefulness that it once had).

you must be crazy or something.....I use the caps lock key every day in my work......without that key I would have to use ten times more time on my drawings than I do today......my boss wouldt like that at all.... so leave the caps lock alone and get your self a job so you don`t have to much speartime....

SCRAP THE KEYBOARD AND Re-DESIGN THE WHOLE THING FROM SCRATCH!!I think this Capsoff group would make a great--almost a revolutionary-- contribution for mankind if they were to wage their campaign for radically changing and re-designing the whole keyboard from scratch, as opposed to changing only one irritating key. Because the way the whole keyboard--letters, numbers, keys,... -- designed is irritating at best and obstructing at worst. For the most part today's keyboards still use the same highly user-unfriendly and finger-cramping type of keyboard designed in late 1800s.Why do we, at this age, still have to put up with such an ancient device, which prevents us to type naturally and at the same time inflict painful disabilities on countless secretaries and many other people???Why can't a totally new keyboard be designed with all the letters lined up naturally, such as; ABCDGEFCHJK...... ????Why is that everything else connected to keyboard, such as computers, all kinds of mechanical and electronic devices have evolved and still evolving for better, except the keyboard????

There are things much worse than good old capslock! What do you think of so called "windows" key? The sole purpose of this key is microsoft advertising. No one used it ever! Besides, it's very inconveniently located on the keyboards, between of really usable keys.

SCRAP THE KEYBOARD AND Re-DESIGN THE WHOLE THING FROM SCRATCH!!I think this Capsoff group would make a great--almost a revolutionary-- contribution for mankind if they were to wage their campaign for radically changing and re-designing the whole keyboard from scratch, as opposed to changing only one irritating key. Because the way the whole keyboard--letters, numbers, keys,... -- designed is irritating at best and obstructing at worst. For the most part today's keyboards still use the same highly user-unfriendly and finger-cramping type of keyboard designed in late 1800s.Why do we, at this age, still have to put up with such an ancient device, which prevents us to type naturally and at the same time inflict painful disabilities on countless secretaries and many other people???Why can't a totally new keyboard be designed with all the letters lined up naturally, such as; ABCDGEFCHJK...... ????Why is that everything else connected to keyboard, such as computers, all kinds of mechanical and electronic devices have evolved and still evolving for better, except the keyboard????

SCRAP THE KEYBOARD AND Re-DESIGN THE WHOLE THING FROM SCRATCH!!I think this Capsoff group would make a great--almost a revolutionary-- contribution for mankind if they were to wage their campaign for radically changing and re-designing the whole keyboard from scratch, as opposed to changing only one irritating key. Because the way the whole keyboard--letters, numbers, keys,... -- designed is irritating at best and obstructing at worst. For the most part today's keyboards still use the same highly user-unfriendly and finger-cramping type of keyboard designed in late 1800s.Why do we, at this age, still have to put up with such an ancient device, which prevents us to type naturally and at the same time inflict painful disabilities on countless secretaries and many other people???Why can't a totally new keyboard be designed with all the letters lined up naturally, such as; ABCDGEFCHJK...... ????Why is that everything else connected to keyboard, such as computers, all kinds of mechanical and electronic devices have evolved and still evolving for better, except the keyboard????

SCRAP THE KEYBOARD AND Re-DESIGN THE WHOLE THING FROM SCRATCH!!I think this Capsoff group would make a great--almost a revolutionary-- contribution for mankind if they were to wage their campaign for radically changing and re-designing the whole keyboard from scratch, as opposed to changing only one irritating key. Because the way the whole keyboard--letters, numbers, keys,... -- designed is irritating at best and obstructing at worst. For the most part today's keyboards still use the same highly user-unfriendly and finger-cramping type of keyboard designed in late 1800s.Why do we, at this age, still have to put up with such an ancient device, which prevents us to type naturally and at the same time inflict painful disabilities on countless secretaries and many other people???Why can't a totally new keyboard be designed with all the letters lined up naturally, such as; ABCDGEFCHJK...... ????Why is that everything else connected to keyboard, such as computers, all kinds of mechanical and electronic devices have evolved and still evolving for better, except the keyboard????

SCRAP THE KEYBOARD AND Re-DESIGN THE WHOLE THING FROM SCRATCH!!I think at this Capsoff group we would make a great--almost a revolutionary-- contribution for mankind if we were to wage our campaign for radically changing and re-designing the whole keyboard from scratch, as opposed to changing only one irritating key. Because the way the whole keyboard--letters, numbers, keys... -- designed is irritating at best and obstructing at worst!

For the most part today's keyboards still use the same highly user-unfriendly and finger-cramping type of keyboard designed in late 1800s.

Has anybody ever thought why do we, at this age, still have to put up with such an ancient device, which prevents us to type naturally and at the same time inflict painful disabilities on countless secretaries and many other people???

Why can't a totally new keyboard be designed from scratch with all the letters lined up naturally, such as; ABCDGEFCHJK...... ????

Why is that everything else connected to keyboard, such as computers, all kinds of mechanical and electronic devices have evolved and still evolving for better, except the keyboard????

Having scanned through the comments, I find those from marianne (Norway) and matt to be the most useful; I agree wholeheartedly with marianne that the most annoying - and useless key - is 'Ins'; surely the right solution to the problem of inadvertently hitting keys, which prove to have a greater nuisance value than utility value to an individual user is to add a facility (either an add-on application or incorporation into the operating system - Microsoft please take note!) for disabling / enabling certain keys. That way the keys are there if/when needed while avoiding problems when they are not :-).

Further to my blog entry yesterday, I have now found and installed a very simple little application that disables the CAPS off key but provides a facility for enabling/disabling (using ALT + CAPS LOCK) at will while working on the computer. I have just installed it and it seems to do exactly what is wanted. So, problem solved - now, perhaps that huge effort which would have been required to remove the CAPS LOCK key can be redirected towards solving some of the more important problems in this world! (Surprising that the head of an IT firm didn't go for a software fix, which his company might even have been able to market(!) rather than the more publicity seeking approach, which he has adopted - or might that have been the real intention behind his campaign????).

Anyway, if anyone is interested in the application I mentioned, it is called 'Boldfinger' and can be downloaded from http://www.worldinabox.co.uk/BoldFinger/Download.html.

Like some other commenters, you apparently tend to conclude from yourself to others. The stark reality is - there are no useless, no unused keys on the keyboard.

Examples ? - ScrollLock: the BSD and Linux Communities use it extensively in their text mode consoles.- Pause: about any game uses that. Sytem people use it to control the bios boot (you can use it pause bios boot)

So - leave other keys alone. People know them, people are used to them. Dont move anything. Dont replace anything. Standards are a Good Thing - people don't want constant change, people want to learn things that stay that way.

I could go on. Yes I agree with you - CapsLock must die. But not the key - the function. What we need is standard drivers that treat it like shift - and specialized settings for the few people that still need it the old way. And it should not be called and signed CapsLock any more.

I’m all for keyboard innovation, but lashing out at a single key – a unique standard key which many software designers use to provide a way for toggling a setting – seems an odd notion to build a movement around.

Is your real agenda to get people to talk about keyboard reform, or is this really about Caps Lock?

I was almost tempted to compose this entire comment in capslock, just to spite everyone who agrees with this website. This. Is. Ridiculous. It's a button. A button. This website's premise is based entirely on a piece of plastic half the size of my pinky finger.

But, to feed those who scream for more reasoning behind my disgust at this movement, let me elaborate:I have smaller(er) hands. This means that my hands don't take up as much space on the keyboard as, say, a man's hands. The pain that eventually builds up from having to stretch my pinky finger that extra couple centimeters is considerable. I have experience using the "Shift" key while taking a computer course (in place of the Capslock key). I know what an absolute nuisance it is to have to stop and depress a key to capitalize one measley letter. Also, by abolishing the Capslock key, you invite a throng of people who will choose to pass over the proposed only means of capitalizing words and letters and instead compose letters, e-mails, and blog entries in a manner that makes one look utterly unprofessional and, quite frankly, a bit like an uneducated idiot. The internet is already riddled with those who turn the simple rules of grammer into an optional principle of communicating, turning "I" into "i" and the headings of websites such as this one into something that not one person is going to take seriously.

For the sake of us all (and the already degraded English language), give up while you still have a chance. The internet is huge. This website will, no doubt, be lost in the graveyard of so many failed and half-baked ideas.

Sorry for that post but really I use it quite often. For example to distinguis SQL querys from normal programming. I do not agree to remove this button. i agree to the fact that the keyboard hasn't really developed. But maybe the reason for that is that it is a good design already (and cheap for that matter)?

Well I have been looking for a solution for the annoying capslock-key for a long time. Ther were some scripts and plug-ins available for MacOS 10.3.And now: MAcOS X 10.4 has made a simple standard preference to change or disable all caps, ctr and alt-keys.Thank you Apple. Turn to Apple Now. Disable Microsoft. Do it!

there is a reason for all of the keys even if you dont use them. learn to use the keyboard. and you foind out what most of them are for you dont want to cut them out. and if you going to write somethin with large letters you cant hold down SHIFT FOREWER CAN YOU.

Since the keyboard is one of the few parts of the computer one physically interacts with, it does become a truly personal experience. So, I understand why people get heated over such things as layout.

As for myself, I'm a computer programmer (C++) so I employ it on a regular basis and I enjoy knowing that it's just West of the 'A' key. I personally was really disappointed when keyboard makers changed the arrangement of the Insert/Home/Pg Up; Delete/End/Pg Dn keys as well as changing the "upside-down T" layout of the arrow keys to a "plus-sign" layout in some models clearly to save a little space. I use all of these to navigate text and when a key isn't where you expect it to be, that is extremely frustrating.

So, I'm not really in favor of a new keyboard layout without the Caps Lock key right where I've become accustomed to it.

However, I feel that some education of its use (or more importantly its misuse) is definitely in order. Someone commented earlier that they enjoy the ability to use it to indicate that they are raising their voice. And I agree with that, used occasionally for emphasis it is very effective. But, it is really painful to chat with someone or read comments from someone who simply leaves it on because he/she is too lazy to use the Shift key occasionally. No one wants to read:

...AND THEN I TOOK MY DOG FOR A WALK IN THE PARK. IT WAS SUCH A NICE DAY SO I BROUGHT A BOOK WITH ME AND READ FOR A BIT WHILE HE NAPPED IN THE SHADE....

I'm sure you get the point. Now, championing proper use of the Caps Lock key is a movement I can get behind! :o)

The Japanese need the caps lock key to toggle between typing input modes. Recall that they three 'native' alphabets (hiragana, katakana, and kanji) and also use roman, for a total of 4 alphabets. While entering in native language, there are several input modes to choose from (Hiragana alone has two modes: phonetic typing using roman letters, or 'replaced keys')The caps lock key works in combination with other Japanese only keyboard keys to set these modes. When typing, you need a way to switch between hiragana and katakana very quickly (as kata is often inline with hiragana text), as well as affect kanji input, since all three of these writing systems can appear in one sentence (occasionally in the same phrase or even word).

Screwing with the caps lock key screws everyone in the world who doesn't use only the roman langauge (Japan, China, Russia, and a host of other countries), or anyone who wishes to learn these languages.

I *DO* think the @ key needs to be moved so its not a shifted key. The Japanese keyboard did this with several keys that are usefull for internet or programing.

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